For the responsible addict [Year in Review, Part 7]

Wowie, it’s the end of 2015, and another eventful year of dramas has come to an end. I always enjoy awards and reviews season, since it puts the whole year in perspective and gives me a couple more dramas to put on my list. I’m making a list and not checking it twice, since I’ll watch all the dramas whether they’re naughty or nice.

As you’ve probably already read in the previous reviews, we’d been given the daunting task of selecting a mere five dramas from this year to review. Thankfully, my limited drama-watching plate naturally narrowed down my choices, but it was still an excruciating process. I had many words for many shows but decided on these five because of their addiction potential.

I frequently wonder, “If dramas were drugs… what would they be?” But really, there should be no “if,” in that question because we know that dramas are drugs — addicting and potent drugs that are in constant supply. I’ve gotten some education on how drugs work, so obviously, I would be the perfect person to provide you with the details behind the active ingredients that pulled me into the drama drug. And if you’re a responsible drama addict, you should know what goes into the drama before you watch it. Sometimes, it’s best to go in blind, but I’ve provided five components of five dramas to warn the responsible addict about the dangers and charms of my drug of choice.

It’s always a tricky deed to create a believable friendship preceding a compelling romance. Clearly, since we saw the face-palming flop that was Time I’ve Loved You, which couldn’t pull off a functional story even with their amazingly well-cast leads and a wasted supporting cast. While Bubblegum suffered from similar pitfalls, this show was executed more effectively in a stylish and honest fashion.

While the storyline may have not been as strong or consistent, I found that the tactful directing helped me overlook some of the holes. I was captured by the enthralling mood of this show, which I credit to the directing and music. For me, the mood of this show played a huge part in how much I loved our couple, despite their frustratingly roundabout ways. I found myself falling in love with them, wishing that their real-life personas were just as sweet, cheeky, and vulnerable. Jung Ryeo-won and Lee Dong-wook had an irresistible charm that made me invest in their relationship wholeheartedly. Though not as commendable as the directing, the writing wasn’t severely lacking — the narrations were beautiful and the ambivalence of a friends-to-lovers relationship was expressed in a surprisingly lucid and humorous manner. But it just wasn’t as good or consistent as the directing.

This was glaringly obvious in Mom’s storyline, which felt unbalanced. She was our couple’s main roadblock and became the central point of our story for a bit, changing the flow from laughter to tears. Her story was fascinating and rich with pain, but she wasn’t the reason I was watching this show. I wouldn’t call Mom’s story unnecessary, but she really could have had her own drama. This was realized too late, when we were already too deep into Mom’s history, and the proceeding story felt strangely jumbled and incomplete. The swift return to the laughs and fun coupley moments without doing Mom’s illness justice resulted in a confusing emotional whiplash.

Mom’s condition aside, the initial reluctance and stakes in transitioning into lovers felt real because at its core, this drama was about family — an unconventional family previously held together by tiptoeing around fragile boundaries. Though the drama took a more somber turn and gave us an ample dose of noble idiocy, the memory loss gave Mom and our bubblegum pair the courage to break these self-created walls and find real happiness. Sometimes literally forgetting the burdens of your past is the best way to start anew.

We entered the story by eavesdropping on bickering childhood friends, then exit wondering what our two lovers are whispering and giggling about. It’s a whimsical, romantic, and heartbreaking kind of joy and pain that reminds you to find happiness in the simple moments in life, even if you’ll forget them the next day.

The feeeeeeeels. THE crack drama of the year, and though it may have been relatively overhyped by the end, I enjoyed every second of Healer while it lasted. I readily suspended my disbelief for 20 hours to immerse myself into the suspenseful world of Healer and his one true ajumma. When you’re given full characters and a full story, you don’t have much more to ask. But Healer does more for you, with its smart pace, quick wit, and complex characters intertwined among generations.

There was something so endearing about Healer himself, whether he was Bong-sookie, Jung-hoo, or the many other personas of Healer, simply trying to live a normal life. But it was most fulfilling to watch Healer grow into his identity and figure out who his people were. The lonely wildcat Healer, who engaged with humans based on a price tag, was a stranger by end. Ji Chang-wook brought life to our charismatic night errand boy and had some crackling chemistry with Park Min-young, who particularly stood out in this role. Yes, Park Min-young has played similar characters in the past, but something about the heroine allowed her to let go of the pretty image she’s maintained for so long. She was weird, honest, resilient, and so easy to root for.

This is definitely a drama I would marathon, but the experience of anxiously awaiting the next episode and then getting an episode that really delivers was so gratifying. The pain in anticipation was worth it because it induced an adrenaline rush that made your heart race all the way to the end.

What a fun, spooky, but murky surprise this show was. Oh My Ghostess was one of those shows that I knew I would like because of its cast and production team. Still, I was impressed by how the story was articulated to weave together all the characters’ threads into the overarching story. Our lead couple was the most adorable pair this year, which was everything I expected and more from Park Bo-young and Jo Jung-seok. I could watch them onscreen together all day.

But much like High School King of Savvy (the producers’ prior drama), this show didn’t leave a clean finish. There were a fair amount of questionable body possessions and confusing romantic attraction to overlook in order to believe the adorably ever after ending. I found Kim Seul-gi’s portrayal of the ghost the best she’s done yet, with a nice blend of irreverent, perverted, poignant, and hilarious. But I found myself heavily confused about her character when she was possessing her host’s body: Who was Chef falling in love with, and whom did these emotions belong to? The body you promised the feelings for, or the actual soul that elicited these feelings?

The ghost character overwhelmed the host’s body, making me more attached to the ghost’s story than to the human heroine’s growth. It seemed like the ghost did the development and growth, and the human just became the product of that growth. If we’d had more interactions between our two pocket-sized partners, I would have had fewer qualms, but we were given too little development of their bond, resulting in a regrettably one-sided possession. I felt a similar discomfort with our possessed officer, and wished that there were better explanations for it, even though I nevertheless found his character effective. His warm eyes changed to scary killer eyes in a heartbeat, making chills run up my spine.

Ultimately, our story was about two invisible spirits resolving their deepest desires — for family, love, and themselves. It wasn’t about a ghost needing to lose her virginity to find closure in her death. But I thank that the ghost thought she did, without which we couldn’t have gotten the many laughs and hilarious hijinks with our beloved Chef.

A reclaiming-of-age drama for the ajumma who revisits her lost golden years and rediscovers herself, Twenty Again won me over with its simple heroine and encouraging message. Watching the pushover heroine boom from a pushover who into a self-sufficient individual was my favorite part of this story, though her bickering relationship with the childhood friend secretly still in love with her was a close second. Choi Ji-woo was perfectly cast as the admirable and vulnerable Ha Nora, making me wonder why she doesn’t do lighter rom-coms more often. Not that this drama was all light and fluffy, since we were definitely given some doses of reality in the heroine’s pursuit of her once-held dreams.

There were standout moments when our heroine’s self-awareness became too real — when she realized that her past was not something she could relive, and she felt the pain of regret. The heartache came from being too young, too far, and too late — all things she couldn’t control at the time. Enough of these sobering moments allowed the overdue pursuit of college to be more realistic. However, I didn’t feel the need for that cold bucket of water to the face, when she pulled back from continuing with her education in an ultimate sobering moment.

But I can’t argue with an ending so sweet and satisfying, with the ever-supportive Lee Sang-yoon finally with his unforgettable first love. His eagerness to help her was frequently miscalculated and miscommunicated, but his sincere rooting for her happiness won my heart. His perseverance paid off in the end, and his patience made me even more satisfied with his happiness.

The drama gave me the strange urge to call my mom and tell her that she, too, could go back to college and relive her dreams. She was happy to embrace the delusion that grumpy, loyal, dimpled first loves exist and wait 20 years for you, making it tough to deliver the wake-up call that Professor Grumpypants was fictional. *sigh*

Truly an underrated show that explored the gripping question of whether monsters are born or created. The question wasn’t addressed in an obvious fashion; rather, it was developed in a more subtle way that made you question the nature of psychopathic killers. Are circumstances to blame, or the biological pathology to blame? While there is no real dichotomy in the nature of psychopaths, it was an interesting question to dissect through our two long-lost brothers.

The cast in this show was simply great. I loved the cold intelligence, resentful passion, and heartbreak from Seo In-gook, who has been consistently improving with every project and proving to be quite an impressive actor. He played the older brother with a cautious protectiveness over younger brother Park Bo-gum, who put in a breakout performance as the chillingly innocent psychopath. He portrayed the juxtaposition of his two sides alarmingly well, always seeming borderline volatile. I held my breath a few times, wondering if this time would be enough provocation for him to show his true colors. I was just as captivated by Choi Won-young’s performance as the veteran psychopath, whose blank wide-eyed stare and smile made me freeze. (His character left such a strong impression that it took a while for me to get used to his narcissistic ex-husband character in Twenty Again. I kept thinking that he must have killed someone.)

Sandwiched between the male cast was Jang Nara, who was one superb heroine: badass, (embarrassingly) honest, stubbornly brave, and caring. Despite knowing of the dangers, she would run into a situation or a killer head-on, and while her impulsiveness was troublesome at times, I preferred her acting on intuition to waiting around in distress, which she absolutely did not do.

The story was rich with symbolism, filled with conversational subtext, and purposeful in its development of our brothers’ story through subcases. All the while, the show instilled in me a fascination with and predilection for monsters, then some anxiety about whether I was a monster… before realizing that maybe the world of monsters wouldn’t be so bad if Park Bo-gum was a part of it.

*****

A huge thank you to the Dramabeans community for being the support group that we need to appreciate and obsess over all the dramas. Thank you to the benevolent overlords, javabeans and girlfriday, for letting me share my thoughts, for being patient and flexible, and for fueling my love for dramas.

Cheers to the new year in hopes that it will bring us more thrilling and heartwarming adventures! Peace out, 2015. It’s been real.

December 23, 2015 at 8:15 AM

December 23, 2015 at 8:41 AM

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thank you for including I Remember You! Truly, starting to think it was a very Choi Won-Young year aka how a simple secretary of a multiple personality chaebol can become a University professor through murder and identity theft...

I did not watch Twenty Again or Bubblegum and Healer was not my drug, but Oh My Ghostess was good all thanks to Park Bo-Young. She took on the challenge to play a person and a ghost in one body, and I don´t think any seasoned actress would have done a better job with this demanding task.

December 23, 2015 at 10:52 AM

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You are so right about the fact that although SIG was great he would have been nowhere as good without PBG! They had me believing they really were brothers at the end of that drama. Actually, I still believe it! I WILL be delusional if I have to and I'll just think that his character in 88 is just someone who looks really like him.

December 23, 2015 at 12:21 PM

A couple of weeks ago, i read an article on allkpop that SIG said that the actor he wanted to most act again/have a bromance with is PBG!!!

So even SIG realizes that the 2 of them brings our their best acting skills and feels!!

The only other time i saw PBG was him playing the younger character to Lee Seo Jim's character on 'Wonderful Years' and also as a foot-soldier/sailor in the epic movie 'Roaring Currents'. I have to go back and watch Reply 1988 which i paused after the 2nd episode.

Enjoyed IRY! I am not too much of a murder/mystery kdrama fan (as many times - they don't handle that genre well).

But IRY was good and i am putting Missing Noir M on my watch list too as i have seen that it receives some 'thumbs-up' from the bean-counters.

December 23, 2015 at 8:19 PM

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OMG it is so adorable that he said that! But now I'm sad thinking of the reunion that will (probably) never be!

Oh, and if you watch Missing, just be prepared for a open ended finale. I sat that until it was over thinking, "Really? That's it?" So, you know, unless it gets a second season, you'll be left with a lot of unanswered questions.

December 23, 2015 at 8:43 AM

December 23, 2015 at 8:47 AM

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A.W.E.S.O.M.E!!

Really, The Feeeeeeeeels!
I get extra-attentive whenever i read Healer and read the post again just to get the reference,lol.
You had amazing dramas-healer, OMG, IRY, 20A and BG were great, but first four are in my forever list! And big thanks for your beautiful reviews, dear, they were icing on the cake!!
To this site and the wonderful recappers : am your loyal puppy forever!

Oh my Love, am all yours, AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER ONE, COZ AM ETERNALLY YOURS...

December 23, 2015 at 8:53 AM

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Awesome!! this Review is best Dramaallama!! you did a splendid work reviewing those dramas to us... These are actually MY five best drama of 2015.. all best K dramas are here... i liked them all.. and will marathoned it all in some time... Thanks & Fighting... :)

December 23, 2015 at 9:00 AM

December 23, 2015 at 9:02 AM

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Oh My Ghostess .....my main takeaway was the cast, especially the two female leads.

I'm still a little bombed by how Park Bo-young felt like two totally different girls in the same body, and how Kim Seul-gi made me cry (that girl needs to be allowed to do more than play slapstick sidekick forever, Splash Splash Love showed just how amazing she can be as a romantic lead).

December 23, 2015 at 10:04 AM

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Right? KSG won me over as the insecure,scared, so much in need of love,that she was.Her ghost sucked me in more than the happy couple who did not care for the absurdity of the basis of their relationship,the relationship which was not rooted on mutual understanding.Which just got stuck in the visual part,and the chef never did the groundbreaking question of who he was in love with.Anyway,moving on,,splash splash love have to be the most endearing drama of the year.Can't get it out of my system.Yet.

December 23, 2015 at 1:21 PM

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The love triangle in Oh My Ghostess had a great premise but was slightly poorly executed. They got so caught up on possessed Na Bong Sun that they neglected to give the real Na Bong Sun a chance to shine to balance the chemistry. For me, it kinda ended up looking like Chef just liked Na Bong Sun's cuteness but loved Shin Soon Ae's personality. It was still a great rom-com though. The casting was perfect.

December 23, 2015 at 9:03 AM

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Just reading your review of Healer sent me whirling back to the FEELZ of that amazing drama. Thank you!

And Bubblegum was great too. This role was Lee Gong Wook's closest reveal of his real-life personality - which came through loud and clear through two seasons of RoomMate. He's just a sweetie pie - everyone's big brother, counselor, caregiver. It was so fun to see him acting with his "mom" as she was also on RoomMate and they became not only great friends but the "Parents" of the entire house.

Thanks for your great work through the year, Dramallama! Here's to another great year ahead. We're off to a wonderful start with Remember and Answer Me 1988 - already my newest crack-drama.

December 24, 2015 at 2:48 AM

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We can't be sure if real Lee Dong Wook is good lover, since we haven't seen his in relationships with women as a lover. But we (I mean his fans or some other people) have seen him as a great son, who cares a lot about his parents and have awesome mom, as perfect brother - he has started working to be able to pay for his sister's aducation, then he has sponsored her wedding and invested into opening her husband's veterenary clinic. He has adorable sister and awesome relationships with her...something like we have seen in BG in the beggining. Then he's great friend - from his debut till now from every project (dramas, movies, photoshoots, MVs, events, variety, reality) he has friends - men & women of different ages and different professions. He was described by Lee Deok Hwa (his dad from Hotel King) as 95% perfect person and explained why not 100%, since nobody is perfect. He's gentleman and caring person. His co-stars revealed that when having night shooting scenes in Hotel King Dongwook has asked director to shoot first older cast and ladies and his scenes to leave for last, so they can go and have some rest. On Roommate everybody was prasing him like a great, friendly and easygoing guy.
But because of his friendly personality and on-screen chemistry people think that he had affairs with almost all his co-stars. If he had, how can he still be friends with almost all of them? And do you have evidence that he really had romance with any of them, or only rumors?
And yes, his RiHwan has a lot similarities with real Lee Dong Wook

December 23, 2015 at 9:04 AM

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Hi Dramallama!

Thanks so much for touching on some of my faves: Healer and I Remember You. I've commented about how much I loved both dramas in other reviews, though I Remember You edges out the competition in my book, so I won't dwell on it here.

There were many dramas I dropped this year after the first few episodes: Bubblegum was one of them. I never really got into Twenty Again, but I did watch Oh My Ghostess until the 10th episode. I liked it well enough, but the whole ghost-thing-in-my-body-while-I'm-kissing-my-boyfriend brought out my squeamish side and I dropped it after that. Special thanks to ‎Park Bo-Young, ‎Cho Jung-Seok, ‎Kim Seul-Gi and the ensemble cast for making it an unforgettable drama though. The vibe I got watching it reminded me hugely of Coffee Prince.

December 23, 2015 at 9:35 AM

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My top 3 dramas of the year are all in your review *squeee*

-oh my ghostess - solid casting and crackling chemistry
-healer - i cannot exactly put 1 outstanding points of the show but it was the most addictive crack drama of the year for sure
-i remember you - so much talents and smart writing

All these end of year reviews are tempting me to re-marathon these shows!

December 23, 2015 at 9:41 AM

I think I love you. Your review on I Remember You makes me miss the psychopath trio and the kickass heroine even more. And thankyou for mentioning the richness of the story. IRY was all out wonderful.

I watched the other shows you mentioned and really loved Healer and 20 Again, and liked Oh My Ghost enough (though not much to write home about). Bubblegum, however, i stopped watching after some episodes. I did not like the approaching angst and left it midway! I might pick it up someday just for the sake of Lee Dong Wook.

Anyway thanks again for including IRY. It truly was a gem of a show though sadly underrated.

December 23, 2015 at 9:49 AM

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Watched and loved every single one of them except Bubblegum. It starts off well but was too angsty after ep5 so had to give up.
Others I think my addiction chart starts with Healer (it was more potent than cocaine!), then I remember you (omgomgaaad) finally Omghostess (cute... Kim Seul gi rules)

December 23, 2015 at 9:55 AM

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Healer ya! Its had me coming back all the time...its still d best drama dis year has given me....i find myself watching it on and on and wanting more of it..LDW did amazingly and am rooting for him right now. actually PMY made me watchd it but i find my self falling for bong soo..
And oh my ghost had me too! I mean diffrent people with d same feelings but diffrent solution....and deputy chef acting like a kid made me glue to it.....
I mean wats wrong in a gurl getting healer to protect and chef-nim---to love???
Thanks Dramalords for giving me wonderful drama2015...kahmshamida!

December 23, 2015 at 9:58 AM

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The only dramas I finished this year are I Remember You and Village.

I was raving about IRY when it was airing, but after the show finished I thought that it could have been much much more, and it probably wasn't as good as I thought it was. I'm pretty much "anti-bromance" most of the time. I appreciate the bond, but not really the way Kdramas choose to portray it - it seems exceedingly cheesy most of the time. I'm a fan of PBG and SIG's performances individually, but I really think that the bromance parts were overdone (as usual). Also, despite JNR's character being not the usual candy, it was still very flat. All in all, I didn't think it was superbly well-written, the really only outstanding part was the cinematography.

December 23, 2015 at 9:58 AM

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Me too bubblegum was too melodramatic I know it should be but I also lost intrest at the start itself I don't even remember which episode.... this is the only review in which I have watched all the series because all the others reviews have last, punch or answer me series which I haven't watched(they are in my holiday watching list though) .... glad there is someone whose taste matches with mine thank you for the review

December 23, 2015 at 10:13 AM

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Dramallama, thank you so much for including Bubblegum into your review. I'm glad that you have been captivated as well by amazing Bubbly couple Lee Dong Wook and Jung Ryeo Won. Their characters were so sweet and real, and their love is my life goal.
Actually, among all 2015 dramas I would pic the same list replacing IRY by KMHM.
And of course Bubblegum will take 1 place, since I have never seen such unusual and deep drama.
Agree with you absolutely about directing and narrations.

December 23, 2015 at 10:22 AM

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I watch 4 out of 5 and like OMG and IRY (yei! Abbreviation, haven't watch bubblegum). If they're medicine
OMG: sweet vitamin that you need the taste even if just for the sweetness.
I finally understand what aegyo in a fine way, like when I saw sarang or the triplets, it's cute and naturally please you.
20 again : the medicine for cold you nees to take but you hate the smell.
I like the story, I just don't find they behave good, it's childish and mostly a fanservise if we place ourself as heroine, male lead is irritating me in the beginning until I don't care.
Healer : prescribe med that pass after it ends.
It's strange that I can't like healer, JCW is handsome but i still remember how the 1st 2 week doesn't that much impression just like the last 2 week, it's more like fantasy even if it tried to be real.
IRY : that nice clean feel meds that always taste sweeter than yesterday.
I really like the writing symbolism and the overall feel the show represent with eñsemble cast, pleasant experience I want to feel again.

December 23, 2015 at 10:30 AM

That was a lovely read, thank you, dramallama. (Pleased to meet you, Dramapanda here- same zone, different species.)

I love your sum-up of Bubblegum, which did hit the nail on the head on exactly what it had going so strongly for it, and also why it suffered and did not live up to its full promise.

Thanks also for reviewing Healer and I Remember You. Both those were favourites. I especially like your reminder of Park Min Young's portrayal as "...something about the heroine allowed her to let go of the pretty image she’s maintained for so long. She was weird, honest, resilient, and so easy to root for." That's so true. On recent rewatching of Healer, I found myself intrigued that she allowed certain shots to show less than flattering angles and awkwardness - that made her character all the more endearing.

Also, Jang Nara was a total badass in IRY. She's always portrayed as being tiny and fragile, so it was great to see how hard she fought back in IRY. All props to her for showing she was totally qualified to be a cop in that.

Also, I did enjoy Choi Won-young’s performance in IRY, as much as I enjoyed DO's. Together with Park Bo Gum - they did make intelligent psychopaths very attractive and intriguing. That's all the more disturbing though not false to life, since psychopaths are known for being disarmingly charming.

Haven't seen the other two but have to admit they're not really my cup of tea- even with Kim Seul Gi in the offering.

December 23, 2015 at 11:12 AM

December 23, 2015 at 11:36 AM

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YAS DRAMALLAMA! Thank you so much for including the lighter comedies in your review - I found myself skimming through most of the previous reviews simply because I only watch lighter rom-coms and very few of them were included.

Twenty Again, Oh my Ghostess and Bubblegum were also my picks, and I must say, I'm loving Oh My Venus! It's a shame that no one picked it up, but I guess it came on too late in the year + isn't too compelling plot-wise to garner a year-end review. But, the latest episode!!!! (ep 12) Omo!!!!

December 23, 2015 at 1:09 PM

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Dear Dramallama,
I love your clever, creative and spot-on way of describing the dramas as drugs and listing their active ingredients :D
I was right there with ya fangirling over Healer, the most potent drug this year, and loved Twenty Again, Oh My Ghostess, and I Remember You as well.
May the next year be a good one in dramaland again!

December 23, 2015 at 1:50 PM

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Wow. You must be my spirit animal or something. This is the post I relate to the most, as these are all dramas I either watched or followed. Only ones missing are Sassy Go Go and Reply 1988... But I get the pain of trying to narrow down your choices to just 5

December 23, 2015 at 1:53 PM

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Bubblegum was my biggest addiction this year. For me the most touching lines, characters, lovestory and narration whuch I have seen in reality dramas. Greatly done for newbie writer. But I should say that among all recappers with you I have the best match. 4 dramas (exclude I remember you) I like

December 23, 2015 at 2:40 PM

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Dramallama your reviews are simply amazing! With the
exception of OMG, I've watched and LOVED every drama you've mentioned- all of the hearts emojis for you! And thank you very kamsa for the Healer pic! Keep up the good work for hopefully a really long time. <3

December 23, 2015 at 2:44 PM

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As a pharmacist I highly approve of this post. Who cares about anti-fungal and anti-viral drugs (what i should be studying right now) when I could be squeeing over healer-ya and Mr Dimples. I am of half-mind to just marathon healer for the umpteenth time right now...or i could just settle for listening to michael learns to rock's eternal love while studying?

I have watched the majority of these shows but i dont think i was attached to many of them - healer was great but i felt it faltered in the final episodes.
Twenty again was similar - i loved in until a certain point..and then i dunno what happened.
I remember you's open ending also annoyed to to some extent but i have learned to live with it, the show was really great until that final episode - is there are theme to this final episode not being as great as the start? Park Go Bum was a revelation, i hadnt seen him before but he was so vulnerable and other times so creepy it was very interesting to watch. Currently loving his as Taek in Reply 1988 even if i am team Jung Hwan FTW!
Bubblegum - dont even know why i watched it, i didnt find it very interesting but something kept pulling me back to it.
I didnt watch Oh My Ghostess, but i did keep up with the recaps. Maybe one day i will be inspired to pick it up..

I am really loving this new style of year-end reviews. Thank you dramallama for your review!

December 23, 2015 at 3:21 PM

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When you talk about Kim seul gi, i want to talk about Splash Splash love which was AWESOME that i can't deal but that is not what this post is about.
I really love this post, I've always thought of dramas as drugs addictive and all consuming.
Loved your picks, I've watched and loved them all except Bubblegum which i haven't watched yet all the while making me sing along 'I'M ALL YOURS... ? crap now i want to watch it again.

December 23, 2015 at 7:49 PM

December 23, 2015 at 8:23 PM

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Oh my Dramallama. Your awesome end of year review makes me relapse again! Now I have this unstoppable urge to re-watch Healer! IRY! OMG! 20 Again! Bubblegum! Oh, I'll be stuck in my bed, under the blanket and glued to the screen marathoning all of those during these hols.. I'll relive the exhilarating feeling while watching it live few months ago.

December 23, 2015 at 9:04 PM

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Ah, yes the feeeeels! This is the year where I've found at least two of my all-time crack, well three if Answer Me 1988 gives an ending that leaves me similar feeeels as Healer & IRY.

It's funny that I don't download all the dramas I intend to watch, just the ones I think I would rewatch and rewatch and rewatch. Others I watch by streaming and tend to forget them after the series ended. But I have ALL five of your prescribed drug in my first-aid kit slash hard drive, ready to be consumed whenever I'm in need for some feeeeeels. Well I haven't finished dl-ing Bubblegum, but that's just a mere technicality bcs I downloaded the first ep and that's a good sign that it will remain in my medicine box after it gets accompanied by the rest.

Great review, dramallama! Happy holidays for you and all beanies out there!

December 23, 2015 at 9:36 PM

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Yay! Another I Remember You mention!!!

'Innocent psychopath' made me chuckle but it's totally apt for Min. My heart broke for this bromance (one of my all time favorites). Park Bo Gum was amazing and Seo In Guk was very different in this than the high schooler roles he played before.

Oh My Ghostess started great and if I didn't think too deep, it was cute. They could've done it better, it got saved the by the actors giving it their all.

December 23, 2015 at 9:46 PM

December 23, 2015 at 10:12 PM

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You captured 3 (H, 20A, IRY) out of 5 of my 2015 standout dramas. The remaining two i dropped but still followed through recaps. Thank you for this great piece. May you have a restful break from work or study, Beanies. The season's best to you all.

December 24, 2015 at 2:12 AM

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Dramallama, your words for Oh My Ghostess is sooo on point! Thanks for writing that out. I remember there was hot debate about who Chef likes more between the two girls, and I ended up in complete disbelief when I read some comments hating on Soon-ae -,-

December 24, 2015 at 3:39 AM

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"It’s a whimsical, romantic, and heartbreaking kind of joy and pain that reminds you to find happiness in the simple moments in life, even if you’ll forget them the next day".
This words. I'm so grateful for them. I haven't watched all other dramas on your list (tbh lately I can't find drama for my taste and I have given up on kdramas). but occasionally I have read review of Bubblegum which was described as "real life drama with indie movie spirit". I gave it a try and now I'm totally addicted with this story. Through the pain, smiles...and wholes the spring will come. And the happiness as well. Even chewing bubblegum you can feel small happiness. You just have to reveal inside yourself ability to see those tiny moments.
This drama gives so many lessons. I regret that most of people were unable to feel this unique atmosphere and spirit. But it's hard to watch something wich goes far from what you have used to watch. I do believe that in the nearest future kdramaland will continue to produce such real life dramas and maybe people will get used to them and will be appreciating more...and more.
This drama is already on my hard drive waiting for vacation time to marathon it and fall in love even more. And maybe understand and reveal something more.

December 24, 2015 at 3:02 PM

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Healer and Oh My Ghostess -
I watched the whole drama twice..But in certain scenes, I'm not sure how many times I've clicked the Replay button. There are just some scenes I can't resist to watch over and over again.

I Remember You -
I also believe this show is underrated. I so love this drama - the characters and the plot.

Twenty Again -
Lee Sang Yoon made my heart melt in this drama. Though Choi Ji woo is great, but if the guy isn't LSY, the show won't be as good as it is.

Bubblegum -
I dropped it as soon as the mom started to forget things because I know that noble idiocy is coming. Maybe I'll continue watching it again soon since the drama has already ended.

December 25, 2015 at 7:18 AM

December 24, 2015 at 10:08 PM

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dramallama ,
am surprised, so far your list of awesome dramas, is the closest to mine (except the Oh My Ghostess which i didn't watch). while i am a fan of JB. your list is almost exactly like mine.
1. Healer
2. I Remember you
(3. Remember-war of the son)
4. Twenty Again
5. Bubblegum

see, except for Remember War of Son, in place of OMG, everything is mentioned on your list.
thanks for your sum-up of each.